Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zalsarac’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alstroemeria  plant named ‘Zalsarac’, characterized by its erect and strong flowering stems; vigorous growth habit; creamy white and red-colored flowers; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Alstroemeria hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Zalsarac’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida, commercially used as a cut flower Alstroemeria, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Zalsarac’.

The new Alstroemeria plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new cut flower Alstroemeria cultivars with desirable flower and plant qualities, attractive foliage and flower coloration and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new Alstroemeria plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands in May, 2003, of a proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection identified as code number 01-0475-005, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection identified as code number 87-1069-02, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Alstroemeria was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands in June, 2004.

Asexual reproduction of the new Alstroemeria plant by rhizome divisions in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands since September, 2004, has shown that the unique features of this new Alstroemeria plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Zalsarac’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Zalsarac’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant:

-   -   1. Erect and strong flowering stems.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Creamy white and red-colored flowers.     -   4. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants of the female parent selection primarily in flower size as plants of the new Alstroemeria have larger flowers than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants of the male parent selection primarily in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Stabec’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,041. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands, plants of the new Alstroemeria differed from plants of ‘Stabec’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had smaller flowers and flower         umbels than plants of ‘Stabec’.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and ‘Stabec’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Stabec’ had white and light red to         deep pink-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Alstroemeria, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Alstroemeria.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘Zalsarac’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements describe plants of the new Alstroemeria grown in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands in a glass-covered greenhouse in ground beds. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 20° C., night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 15° C. and light levels averaged 5,000 lux. Plants used for the photograph and description had been growing for one year. The photograph and the description were taken in the late summer. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Zalsarac’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida             selection identified as code number 01-0475-005, not             patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida             selection identified as code number 87-1069-02, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By tissue culture.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 40 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 60 days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, fleshy, thick; close to 155D in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense.         -   Rhizomes.—Shape: Elongate; rounded. Length: About 10 cm to             30 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm to 10 mm. Texture: Smooth.             Color: Close to 155D. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright; freely branching, bushy             appearance: vigorous growth habit.         -   Time from planting to harvest of cut flowers.—About 80 to 90             days.         -   Number of flowering stems produced per year.—About 240 to             280.         -   Plant height.—About 146 cm to 183 cm.         -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 35 cm. -   Flowering stem description:     -   -   Aspect.—Erect.         -   Length.—About 128 cm to 165 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 6 mm to 9 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.5 cm to 12 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Close to 147C; towards the base, tinted with close to             183A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Appearance.—Leaves asymmetrical; sessile.         -   Length.—About 18.2 cm to 24.7 cm.         -   Width.—About 3.5 cm to 4.8 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire; slightly undulate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.         -   Color.—Developing and fully developed leaves, upper surface:             Close to 137A; venation, close to 137A. Developing and fully             developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation,             close to 147B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single cup-shaped flowers arranged in             compound umbels. Flowers face mostly outwardly. Perianth             segments separate. Freely and continuously flowering.         -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering continuous during the             spring in The Netherlands.         -   Fragrance.—Not detected.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About four weeks; flowers not             persistent.         -   Flower longevity as a cut flower.—About 12 to 16 days.         -   Flower buds (showing color).—Length: About 5 cm to 5.5 cm.             Diameter: About 1.5 cm to 2 cm. Shape: Roughly ovoid. Color:             Close to 47B.         -   Umbel height.—About 15.5 cm to 21 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 18 cm to 21 cm.         -   Number of flowers per umbel.—About 6 to 24.         -   Flower diameter.—About 6 cm to 7 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 7 cm to 7.5 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 7 cm to 8 cm.         -   Perianth.—Arrangement: Six arranged in two whorls, each             whorl with two lateral and one median segments. Outer             perianth, lateral segments: Length: About 5.8 cm to 6.7 cm.             Width: About 3.2 cm to 3.7 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex:             Embedded pointed. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; weakly             undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color, when opening and filly opened, upper             surface: Close to 4D; central blotch, close to 47B; towards             the apex, greenish overtones. Color, when opening and fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 4D; central blotch, close to             47B; towards the apex and venation, greenish overtones.             Outer perianth, median segment: Length: About 5.7 cm to             6.9 cm. Width: About 3.2 cm to 3.7 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex:             Embedded pointed. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; weakly             undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color, when opening and fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 4D; central blotch, close to 47B; towards             the apex, greenish overtones. Color, when opening and fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 4D; central blotch, close to             47B; towards the apex and venation, greenish overtones.             Inner perianth, lateral segments: Length: About 6.3 cm to             7.2 cm. Width: About 2.1 cm to 2.3 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate.             Apex: Wishbone-shaped. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire;             weakly undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color, when opening and fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 4D; central blotch, close to 47B; towards             the base, close to 9B; towards the apex, greenish overtones;             stripes, close to 183A. Color, when opening and fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 4D; central blotch, close to             47B; towards the base, close to 9B; venation, greenish             overtones; occasional stripes, close to 183A. Inner             perianth, median segment: Length: About 5.8 cm to 6.1 cm.             Width: About 2.1 cm to 2.4 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex:             Wishbone-shaped. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; weakly             undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color, when opening and fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 4D; central blotch, close to 47B; towards             the apex, greenish overtones; stripes, close to 183A. Color,             when opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 4D;             central blotch, close to 47B; venation, greenish overtones.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 6 cm to 11 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm             to 4 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: Erect to about 30° C. from             vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six.             Anther shape: Elliptical. Anther length: About 8 mm. Anther             diameter: About 2 mm. Anther color: Close to 152B. Pollen             amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 152A. Pistils:             Quantity per flower: One. Style length: About 3 cm to             3.5 cm. Style color: Close to 48B. Stigma color: Close to             48A. Ovary color: Close to 146B.         -   Fruit/seed.—Fruit and seed development has not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Alstroemeria. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have been     observed to tolerate temperatures from about −5° C. to about 40° C. 

1. A new and distinct Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zalsarac’ as illustrated and described. 